The National Student Survey (NSS)

Richard Puttock – Senior Analyst

Julian Martin – Policy Officer

How did TQI come about ?

• Up until 2001, QAA assessed teaching quality at each department (statutory duty)

• In 2001 it was agreed to move to a new system of QAA institutional audit and TQI

• New quality arrangements based on:– Institutions’ autonomy and responsibilities– Lightness of touch– Informing stakeholders

What’s included on the TQI website?

• Quantitative data on :

– Qualifications on entry

– Continuation

– Achievement

– Destinations

What’s included on the TQI website?

• Qualitative data:

– External examiner report summaries

– Internal review report summaries

– Student feedback

How did NSS come about ?

• Desire to include student voice• Investigation to see whether HEIs’ own

student feedback would be suitable for publication

• Concluded that a new survey needed• Extensive NSS pilot carried out

The Questionnaire

• 21 closed questions in 6 areas– Teaching quality– Assessment and feedback– Academic support– Organisation and management– Learning resources– Personal development

• One summative question • 2 open ended questions

Survey process

• Target list generated from HESA records• Survey agency collected contact details• Survey agency attempted to contact students

– E-mail/website– Post– Phone

• Opt-out available

Survey progress

• Started contacting students in January• Main survey phase nearly complete• Current overall response rate: 56%

Outcomes

• Results will be – published on the TQI site– Fed back to institutions/SUs

• The Survey will be reviewed and assessed• Analysis of the overall results will be carried

out and disseminated to the academic community

Effects of using HESA data

• Advantages– Consistent coverage one algorithm all HEIs– Less burden on HEIs

• Disadvantages– Students may not always be in final year– Relies on good data from HEIs

Crucial HESA fields (1)

• Course length (SPLENGTH/UNITLGTH)

• Year of Programme (YEARPRG)

• Start date (COMDATE)

Crucial HESA Fields (2)

• FTE (STULOAD)

• Source of funding (FUNDCODE/MSFUND)

• Special students (SPCSTU)

• Qualification aim (QUALAIM)

• Subject of qualification aim (also TQI)

Changes for 2006

• Target lists generated by HESA during collection

• Type D exclusions not allowed

• Explicit exclusion of one year PT courses

• Simplification of expected end algorithm

• Probable exclusion of students included in 2005

survey

Presentation of data (1)

• Based on subject groups (41 default)

• Basket metaphor

• Initially 6 scales plus overall satisfaction

• Question level detail available

Presentation of data (2)

• Require 30 responses

• Require 50% of students to respond

• If data not available offer at next level up

Timetable for remainder of 2005 Survey

• Early-April preview of student allocation to cells

• Mid-April survey work completed

• Early July results preview via IPSOS

• Late August preview via TQI

• Early September launch on TQI

• September Detailed feedback to HEIs

Any Questions ?

www.tqi.ac.uk

www.thestudentsurvey.com